The Attack of the Kisgar

by Tom Hunter

  “That’s great, but, how?”

  “This.” He picked up the drum and handed it to Miss Welker. “Leave this with the other artifacts.” She bobbed her head once in affirmation and took the drum. It took only seconds, but Ramon couldn’t help noticing the look that passed between them.

  At the door, she turned her head back toward the two men. Her brow furrowed. “I’m not sure you should be left alone with…him.” She angled her chin in Ramon’s direction, her arms cradling the ancient artifact.

  Noah looked at Ramon, with a sly, dangerous smile on his face. “Oh, don’t worry about me. I’ll be just fine. Besides,” he added as he took a step closer to Ramon. “We’ve come to an…agreement.”

  “A profitable agreement,” confirmed Ramon.

  Miss Welker shrugged. “Okay,” she muttered. “But, don’t say I didn’t warn you.” On the other side, she bumped the door shut with her slim hip. Noah gave an appreciative sigh.

  “You know, I never realized how powerful knowledge really was,” Ramon confided. “I think I’ll…what’s the phrase? Ah yes, ‘swing for the fences’ and hold the state of Nevada hostage. It’s mostly desert, anyway and if a few rumblings occur to upset the balance, well, then…so much the better.” Ramon paused, basking in the possibility of untold wealth.

  With that kind of money, I can retire safely and live the dream. Ramon grinned, remembering the destruction he’d witnessed first-hand.

  “Why do you think I’ve been recording all that footage?” Noah asked, slightly exasperated at the man’s mental thickness at times. Without waiting for a response, he continued. “That way, when we launch this initiative, we have proof. Leverage, if you will, which I’m sure will be weighed with much consideration before they ever consider refusing my, er ‘kind offer.’”

  Ramon guffawed, a hearty laugh from his belly. He shook his head at the brazen wannabe ‘king of the world’. “Man, you are sick! A genius bastard, but sick.” He slapped Noah on the back as if the victory had already been won. After all, how could any prize they wanted not be theirs for the taking, since they had the drum and the Kisgar by association at their disposal.

  “You know, I think 10% of what a state budget can whip up will more than make up for any inconveniences suffered by my team,” said Ramon.

  “Great minds think alike, Ramon. I agree.” Noah reeled backward slightly on his heel and put a finger to his lips. “Oh, now that we’re…on the same page of the plan. Have your men prepare the defenses. I’ve got to go arrange meals to be prepared with our onsite chefs before I retire to bed.”

  Ramon nodded and both men turned. To anyone else they would have looked like men counting out their steps before a duel at dawn. To Miss Welker, who watched from a distance, she worried that’s exactly what was intended.

  They couldn’t afford another fracture in their organization. Not now.

  Thirty-Five

  The heat of the day’s sun emanated from the small rock outcropping they’d found to hide. While the others tried to find shade of some kind, Mochni took the other route and looked for a good vantage point. He wanted to soak up everything he could from the surface. Plus, the extreme differences between his world and this one gave him unique perspective into things and now that he was forced to grow up, he needed time to contemplate and plan for what was to come. Whatever that may be.

  As the sun lowered and stretched itself across the horizon, Mochni sat alone and stared at nothing in the vast expanse before him. His mind wasn’t on the scenery.

  He heard the footsteps, but didn’t turn. He closed his eyes and willed Robbie to leave. “Go away, Robbie.”

  The footsteps grew quicker as Robbie came nearer. “How’d you know it was me?”

  “Hmmm…everyone has a…special footprint. A way they walk. Your walk is not like any other.”

  “Ah, cool. So, you’re saying I have a powerful, commanding walk, right?”

  “Sure, go with that,” Mochni deadpanned. “Now, please go away.”

  “I can’t do that. Sorry.”

  “So, let me guess. Everyone thinks I’m a monster set to kill them and they’ve sent you to talk me out of it.” Mochni’s voice was bitter, with a heavy sense of resentment. He didn’t want this role. He didn’t want to be put in this situation, but he was there anyway. What was that Abby would say? No use crying over spilled milk?

  “This all me, dude,” Robbie replied. “Besides, we’re bleed brothers, right? A kind of family.”

  Mochni nodded and turned to look at the young man sitting beside him.

  “Family,” he repeated as if he’d almost forgotten the word.

  Robbie patted him on the knee. “I don’t know if you know this, Mochni. But, I’m on something like television. It’s TV for computers and tablets, gadgets like Alexia uses. Call it pictures that move,” Robbie explained as he realized Mochni had never seen a TV and only vaguely understood Alexia’s contraptions.

  “Right. So, because I’m like a picture that moves, I have…an image. A personality. It’s different than the one I share with you.”

  Mochni continued to stare straight ahead as Robbie spoke. “My point is this, Mochni. Even when my character, when I am a jerk, I still support my team. They are an extension of me. Not separate from me. Get it?”

  The large Woidnuk turned to look at Robbie and nodded slowly. “I think so.”

  “Good. Now, here’s the really important part for you to understand. I know that being part of the team doesn’t compare to family. Or maybe it does. Family supports you no matter what, right?”

  Mochni nodded.

  “Right, so does being part of our team. We’re all one.” Robbie put his two hands together and balled them up tightening his interlaced fingers. “Strong. Stronger together.”

  Mochni was silent as he thought about what Robbie said.

  After what seemed like too long a pause, Robbie’s natural care-free banter bubbled to the surface. “Don’t know why I’m here. The team is more likely to talk with Thomas about what to do if you flip out again, anyway.” He glanced sidelong at Mochni, a smile tugging at his lips, which quickly reversed into a concerned frown as Robbie listened to Mochni speak.

  “I can’t stop seeing it, Robbie. Every day and every night, I see my father flung into the darkness and without care or concern for me, my mother followed him. Then, when the Kisgar were loosed on my village… It’s all been too much, too fast, and too much loss. I wasn’t ready. I’m not prepared.” He paused briefly and Robbie watched his face darken. “And I hate Ramon’s men and Noah by extension. All of this…all of this is their fault. My hate is great, almost too great to bear.” He spoke into the distance telling his father, his mother, and his world his feelings.

  “I think,” Robbie began slowly. “I think the key now is to figure out what your father would say is the best way to proceed. He was a wise man, after all.” He paused as he thought of his own family and the difference between how the Hogans would handle this versus the Blakes. Night and day. He’d take the Hogan mantle over the Blakes’ any day.

  “That makes sense. If I’m to follow my father, I must figure out what actions he might take. How he would…handle the situation, as you say,” Mochni replied. “I can’t promise any more than that.”

  “Fair enough.” Robbie knew he’d struck a chord and was now proud to call Mochni his bleed brother. But there again, he always had been.

  He hoped he’d gotten through and hoped at the same time he’d never be put in Mochni’s position. As he walked back toward the others, he knew the Woidnuk wouldn’t let him or the team down. But he’d let Mochni decide his next best course of action. He’d need to think things through as he took the first steps into his new leadership role.

  Thirty-Six

  Thomas Knight looked at the dot on Alexia’s image map which lay at his feet behind the rock outcropping in which they’d taken cover. He held up the binoculars and looked toward the area the dot represented, and sighed. It’s just blo
ody desert. Where is this place?

  He paced short spurts of distance trying different angles and hoping the sun’s reflection or a light might give the well camouflaged place away. Had they shrouded it like their camps before? The possibility came to him as an afterthought and in his brief reverie of the idea, he heard footsteps approach. Oh god, had Ramon somehow found them and outflanked them?

  Thomas stopped his pacing and turned to see Alexia and Pediah approaching.

  He ducked back behind the rock outcropping and waited for one of them to speak. Tensions ran high and he fought the urge to snap at anyone who came near.

  “Hey, Thom,” Pediah called gently. He knew better than to surprise him during times like these.

  “Pediah. Alexia.” Thomas nodded and looked for the others.

  “Relax, Thomas.” Alexia piped up. They’re just behind that outcropping there. We thought a bit of privacy was in order so we can talk about things like adults. She arched an eyebrow daring him to say something he’d regret later.

  “Agreed.”

  Pediah stepped forward. “Listen, I’m sorry for getting Mochni all riled up. I had no idea it would generate that kind of reaction.” He paused to gauge Thomas’ reaction, which remained impassive. “I feel terrible about it, Thom. It’s just…”

  “I know, Pediah. It’s forgiven. None of us knew what would happen. But, to be honest, if you hadn’t chewed the boy out, I would have.” He stuck out a hand. Pediah took it and they both smiled.

  “You know,” the big man explained. “It’s times like this, I remember what growing up in Amish country was like. Though I try to forget sometimes, I know how I was raised. How everyone in my village was raised and I’ve been treating Mochni as if he were, well, Amish.”

  Alexia and Thomas looked at Pediah, confused. “Where is this going, Pediah?” Alexia asked softly laying a hand on his arm in support.

  “Sorry,” he mumbled. “What I mean is this. In my world, if people acted beyond the pale, they were shunned; treated as a non-person.” He hung his head. “That’s what I was doing at first in regard to Mochni. And, I’m ashamed to admit it, but it was easy because he looks different. Very different from us. But I’m not made that way. It’s why I left the Amish world behind. I can’t bring myself to treat anyone that way anymore.”

  “We’re all getting used to the idea that there is an entirely different world below our feet.” Alexia’s soft voice soothed the tensions in the air. “The teachings we’ve learned didn’t account for situations like Mochni, his people, and the Kisgar and what we thought we knew has been turned on its ear. We’re all re-navigating our existence and re-evaluating what we stand for.” She turned to Thomas and nodded. He stepped toward Pediah.

  “You’re not the young man I met so many years ago, fresh from the fields, Pediah. Your heart longs for adventure and seeking out the best in people. We know who you are. Now, all you need is faith in yourself.”

  Pediah nodded. A shy smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

  “Good. Now that’s settled, let’s talk about what happens next,” Alexia said brightly.

  “What are you talking about?” Thomas asked.

  “You,” she explained pointedly. “Right. What I want to know is, well need to know is, what will you do if things go south again? Do you have a backup plan? Several, preferably.” Alexia’s concern was evident in her expression.

  Thomas shrugged. “Sorry, no plans or back up plans to speak of. I simply don’t know what I’ll do. Every situation seems to be so insanely different and out of my wheelhouse that I’m flying by the seat of my pants here.”

  “Yeah and with us along for the ride,” quipped Alexia.

  “All we can do is hope things work out, Alexia,” Thomas explained. “Mochni’s got big shoes to fill as the new chief and he’s lost a lot along the way. We’re all trying to figure out how to survive, though the last thing I’d want is for someone like Mochni or any of his people to be hurt.”

  He nervously combed his fingers through his beard as his thoughts crashed like waves in his mind. “All we can hope for at this point is that when we attack it will go more smoothly the second time around.”

  “Agreed,” confirmed Pediah and Alexia in unison.

  Thirty-Seven

  Ramon paced the grounds of the villa, reiterating the parameters to ensure no one could infiltrate. From time to time, he would stop to inspect a portion of the shield which hid them from view, count the guards and guns, and keep an eye out for any pass throughs he may have missed. It was important the team have sufficient coverage from patrols on the ground to any technological advances Noah had up his sleeve to use to their advantage.

  His acute hearing caught the crackle of a radio, a cough, and two voices deep in conversation. They didn’t hear his footsteps as he approached.

  “I don’t get it,” one of his sergeants was saying. “There seems to be some sort of…field or forcefield of some sort that’s blocking communication. It’s why I couldn’t radio you and had to come find you. You were in comms, right? How is it that communication is blocked?”

  “We’re working on getting that figured out, but don’t tell Ramon. He’s likely to blow a gasket. Can you imagine how much more impossible this makes his job? Ugh, I wouldn’t want to be that guy, right now. Nor would I want to be the guy that has to tell…hi, Ramon.”

  “Well, that explains why I can’t raise anyone on the radio outside this place! How I am I supposed to communicate with my men when I didn’t even know there were communications issues…” He stepped closer to the communications guy. “When exactly were you going to tell me about this problem?”

  Both men stuttered a response and willed themselves to not step back. Ramon sighed and made a motion with his hands for more information. “Fine, what else.”

  “Well, this place wasn’t intended to be a fortress, and it shows,” ventured another of his mercenaries who’d recently arrived from their own rounds of the villa.

  “Explain,” Ramon commanded.

  The soldier spread his hand toward the vista. “Well, look. This place has tons of vulnerabilities because everything here was chosen for aesthetics, not fortification. Short of the sunshield technology and well, us, in general, the property itself is basically defenseless. We’re not on high ground. There are no walls or keeps or gates or anything to keep people out,” he finished with a shrug.

  Ramon’s eyes drew together as he considered how best to address the problem. Great. Just great, Noah. Didn’t think about any of that, did you?

  A voice cut into his thoughts. “…there’s no real way we can patrol this entire place with our numbers at their current level. At this rate, we’d basically have to make a wall of troops just to fortify this post.” The young soldier glanced warily at Ramon. He’d been thinking out loud and hadn’t realized he’d been talking loud enough to be heard, but the look on Ramon’s face seemed almost resigned, not fearsome as he’d expected.

  “Mmmm…report received.” His mind raced. How in the hell was he going to make this work? “You.” He motioned to one of his soldiers.

  “Yes, sir.”

  “I need a map.”

  “A map?”

  “Yes, of the grounds. Miss Welker should have one.” The soldier stared at him without moving. “Go!” his voice the underscoring to his finger pointing toward the villa. As he looked where he was pointing, he saw Noah’s driver approach. Ramon rolled his eyes. What is it now?

  “A word, Ramon.” The driver was overstepping his bounds and he knew it. But, it would all be worth it. He could feel it in his bones.

  “What does he want now?” Ramon asked through gritted teeth.

  “Nothing. I came on my own and for my own reasons.” Ramon arched an eyebrow. Now, this was interesting.

  “Walk with me,” Ramon said as he turned away from the soldiers and toward a part of the villa and its lands, he was sure they wouldn’t be overheard. “We can talk on the way.”

  Th
e driver nodded and fell into step. They’d walked in silence for a short while before Ramon turned to him and asked, “You had something for me?”

  “Yes…you know those creatures underground? What did that piece of paper call them…the Kisgar?” Ramon nodded. “Well, I have an idea on how Noah is able to control them.”

  “So, how does he do it?”

  “Well, I’m not sure exactly. But this is what I saw. That drum everyone is so up in arms about? Noah was…cradling it. I mean, I get he’s found this cool relic in the desert, but then it led me to another question. For something he’s just found in the desert, how is it immaculate? There’s not a spot of dust on it.”

  “So, he’s got a clean drum he carries around like a baby. How does this explain how he controls the creatures?”

  “I think, and this gonna sound crazy. But I think he plays the drum. The…the Kisgar are somehow attached to its sounds. So, whenever he lightly taps on it or bangs on it or whatever, it moves those things to action. Control wasn’t the right word. But I think he uses the drum to make ‘em jump.” The man shrugged and shook his head. “Besides, he can’t seem to offer a good explanation himself and the only common factor is the drum.”

  “I see…” Ramon nodded. Then, he remembered something Noah had told him. He’d said the drum would be ‘with the other relics’. The little toad had lied. What else had he lied about?

  “Thanks.” He turned to the driver and put out his hand. “Have you ever thought about…expanding your career endeavors? I may have a job for you if you want it. Soon as my runner gets the map of the villa from Miss Welker then we might just be able to turn things around to our favor. You in?”

  The driver took Ramon’s hand and pumped it in answer. As he turned away from Ramon and headed back toward the villa, a soldier took his place lifting something for Ramon to see.

  “What is it?”

  He held a mangled mess of plastic and electronics.